West Nile Virus hits home
Friday, June 27, 2003 - 9AM
by Rhonda Swain

Pinedale veterinarian Dr. Brent Dean of the Animal Clinic advised the Sublette Examiner early Thursday afternoon that Sublette County has joined the growing list of Wyoming counties with confirmed cases of West Nile Virus.

Dean said that a nine-year-old gelding was brought to his clinic on Monday, June 23, and he sent the horse sample to the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory, with positive results returned Thursday. The horse is still alive.

Dean said that even though it is late in the season, vaccinating against the virus is strongly advised. He encouraged horse owners to give the two-shot series, with a booster following the first shot within three to six weeks, and stressed that the three-week time-frame is best.

Prior to Thursday's confirmation of WNV in Sublette County, Fremont County confirmed a Quarter Horse mare with the virus. Last year, Fremont County had four WNV-positive horses although the disease did not surface in Wyoming until the third week in August. In 2002, 280 horses were tested in the state and 96 returned positive.

Terry Creekmore, the West Nile virus surveillance coordinator for the Wyoming Department of Health, encourages people searching for information on the disease and preventive strategies to visit www.badskeeter.org or call 1-877-WYO-BITE with questions on the disease.